Duke's Mike Krzyzewski will coach the U.S. Olympic men's basketball team in the 2006 world championships and the 2008 Beijing Olympics, a source with knowledge of the selection told the Associated Press.

The source, who did not wish to be identified because the official announcement is set for Oct. 29, said Krzyzewski was chosen last week during a USA Basketball conference call.

Krzyzewski, 58, is 648-187 in 25 seasons at Duke with three NCAA championships and 10 Final Four appearances. He will be the first college coach to direct NBA players in the Olympics since USA Basketball initiated the Dream Team format in 1992.

"Someone as respected as Coach K can lead them," Philadelphia 76ers coach Maurice Cheeks said Wednesday. "The guy's successful. He was offered an NBA job not long ago, so I don't think there's any doubt that he can coach NBA players. It's not even a question. He's one of the best coaches in the game.

Duke assistant athletics director for communications Jon Jackson told the Charlotte Observer he could not confirm the selection and said Krzyzewski was out of town Wednesday and unavailable for comment. Jackson said Krzyzewski will speak to reporters Friday at his previously scheduled news conference to discuss the start of Duke's practice.

Krzyzewski will be the fourth coach with North Carolina ties to be men's Olympic basketball coach. North Carolina's Dean Smith coached the 1976 team to a gold medal in Montreal. In 1992, Krzyzewski was an assistant under Detroit Pistons coach Chuck Daly, a former Duke assistant who led the U.S. team to gold in Barcelona, Spain. The 2004 team took bronze in Athens under former North Carolina player Larry Brown. Former Duke player Dahntay Jones, who plays for the Memphis Grizzlies, predicted in August that Krzyzewski's success as an assistant would help him as Olympic coach.

"International ball is closer to college than the NBA," Jones said. "The rules are similar, and I think Coach would put together a system that would make it work."

USA Basketball is reeling from the third-place finish in Athens and a sixth-place performance in the 2002 world championships in Indianapolis.

Though some have questioned Krzyzewski's ability to coach pro players because he is a college coach, Jones and former Duke guard Daniel Ewing said that wouldn't be a problem.

Ewing, a rookie with the Los Angeles Clippers, said in August that Team USA would win the gold medal if Krzyzewski coached it.

"He has experience," Ewing said. "He knows the game. I'm pretty sure he would get the job done."

Gregg Popovich has three NBA titles with the Spurs, including last season, and he was an assistant to both Denver Nuggets coach George Karl (in Indianapolis) and Brown (in Athens) in the recent U.S. struggles.

"There can't be a more fantastic choice as a coach or a person. Being a college coach or a pro coach is irrelevant," Popovich said. "There couldn't have been a better choice made. That's all there is to say."

Clemson coach Oliver Purnell, who gets to face Krzyzewski in the Atlantic Coast Conference, was also an assistant to Brown in Athens.

"Mike's a very bright guy. I'm sure if he's involved, the selection process is going to be an excellent one," he said. "Whether it's a mix of college and pro players, it's going to be well-conceived knowing what the USA's learned from this past experience in the Olympics."